Whatever your interests, D.C. has a festival that is sure to make your summer all the more entertaining.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
WHEN: June 25-29 and July 2-6, 11 a.m.
WHERE: 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Price: Free
INFO: festival.si.edu
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival has been voted the top tourist event in the United States and hosts over 1 million visitors every year. This massive festival occupies the entirety of the National Mall for two weeks and is free to visitors. The former director of the Smithsonian says that the Folklife Festival is a “living cultural heritage exposition,” which is certainly true; the festival hosts hundreds of musicians, artisans and cooks with traditional knowledge who aim to share their knowledge of their cultures’ practices with festivalgoers. While this year’s special programs highlight the traditions of China and Kenya, thousands of regions of the United States and other nations will also be on display. Those who work to bring their cultures to life at the festival have said it proves that culture cannot be confined to the traditional settings of a museum, concert hall, movie set or gallery, and the festival certainly lives up to this argument. To witness hundreds of traditional artisanal practices, performances, demonstrations, scholarly addresses and to of course eat some traditional grub, come out to the Folklife Festival during the end of June and early July.
D.C. Jazz Festival
WHEN: June 24-29, times vary
WHERE: Locations vary
Price: Some free, other tickets start at $25
INFO: dcjazzfest.org
The city will be alive with the sounds of jazz music from June 24 to June 29 as the D.C. Jazz Festival kicks off its 10th year in business. If you are thinking about skipping it because of travel or location restraints, think again; this week-long festival is sponsoring concerts in over 21 neighborhoods throughout D.C., including Georgetown. Although you should certainly check out the performances hosted by various clubs, restaurants and galleries around the District, you definitely shouldn’t miss the festival’s main events at The Hamilton Live. Concerts here run for the entire week and will include performances by Snarky Puppy, The Brass-A-Holics and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience. While tickets for those shows at The Hamilton Live start at $25, there are an abundance of free shows being put on by the festival at the other locations.
Source Festival
WHEN: June 6-29
WHERE: 1835 14th St. NW
Price: $10 to $20
INFO: sourcefestival.org
Whether you fancy yourself a thespian or simply enjoy performance theater, the Source Festival, which runs from June 6 to June 29, should definitely be on your D.C. summer bucket list. One of the most impressive features of this 21-day festival is the variety it offers. The event features three different kinds of plays (10 minute, full length and “artistic blind dates”) that are inspired by three different themes: mortality, quests and revenge. For those of you who are baffled by the meaning of the “artistic blind date” category, it is comprised of three groups of three playwrights who wrote an original piece based on one of the aforementioned themes in just four months. Tickets for the festival range from $10 to $20 depending on the kind of play, although larger packages to see several combinations of plays are also available. In total, twenty-five plays will be presented at the Source Festival, meaning you have plenty of opportunities to see a performance. Also, consider the fact that it is only a 12-minute cab ride or a short metro ride to the U Street stop.
Safeway Barbecue Battle XXII
WHEN: June 21-22, 11 a.m.
WHERE: 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Price: $12 single day, $20 weekend pass
INFO: bbqindc.com
During the 22 years it’s been around, the Safeway Barbecue Battle has received dozens of accolades, including being named “one of the top five summer festivals in the nation” by CNN. This esteem is completely warranted when you consider all this festival has to offer: free food samples from various D.C. barbecue restaurants and vendors, live entertainment from 30 bands, live cooking and grilling demonstrations and, of course, several national barbecue competitions. If you haven’t seen panic-ridden teams of men and women slaving over a grill and slathered in barbecue sauce, rest assured that it’s something you don’t want to miss. A $12 single-day ticket or $20 weekend pass gives you access to all this and more. Tickets are currently on sale on the festival website. Whether you’re coming out to pick up some grilling tips or just enjoy great food that isn’t from Leo’s, the Safeway Barbecue Battle is an excellent way to spend a summer weekend in D.C.
Truckeroo Food Truck Festival
WHEN: June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12; 11 a.m.
WHERE: Half and M streets SE
Price: Varies
INFO: truckeroodc.com
To get out of the Georgetown neighborhood and experience the delicious tastes offered by over 20 food trucks, look no further than the Truckeroo Food Truck Festival. This festival takes place once a month from April through October and crowds the area across from the Navy Yard Metro Stop, with dozens of food trucks for D.C. residents to enjoy. Not only is there plenty of food available, but Truckeroo sponsors live music all day as well as tons of lawn games (start practicing your cornhole skills now). The event is pretty simple but promises to be a day filled with fun and great food.
